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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#32: This Magic Moment

Last week, we challenged you to write stories about life's ordinary moments. This week, we're thinking along the same lines... but with a twist. And that twist is: magical realism.

Magical realism is a literary style that weaves threads of fantasy into depictions of everyday life. For instance, a story might be about someone sitting on their couch and channel-surfing — that's the "realism." Then they might walk up to their TV and step right through it like a portal into a fantasy land. That's the "magical."

An important distinction of magical realism is that it doesn't explain the fantastical elements or occurrences. The magic that's woven into the story just is: a character turning off the rain with the snap of a finger is as commonplace as another character opening an umbrella.We hope you enjoy the prompts — and if you're looking for a more in-depth explanation of magical realism, as well as some of the genres best reads, check out this blog post!

🥇 Winner

“The Tragedy of the Trainee” by Thiago Loriggio

🏆 Winner of Contest #32

“Next, please.” Paul pressed his eyes, tired, and took another aspirin. Easy job my ass, he thought, as the next interviewee entered his minuscule room. At least he had a room where he could rest in the few seconds it took for another person to come in; few trainees had that luxury. Few trainees, though, had a job as unfruitful as his. The door was opened and Paul raised his eyes, seeing an old man walking in with a stick. The man sat in the plastic chair in front of Paul and smiled. If the elder wasn’t the hundredth person Paul interv...

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⭐️ Shortlisted

“Waiting for Manny” by Mike Garrigan

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #32

Every Saturday, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, Fred Flannigan sat on the third bench to the right at entrance of Oscar Park. Sometimes, his best friend, Manny Mandinkos, joined him for the hour. When Manny actually showed up—you never could tell with Manny Mandinkos—Manny brought a thermos of camomile tea. Manny was unpredictable like that. Manny was also dead. A year ago, Manny decided, on a whim, to climb Mt. Everest. He did none of the rigorous training one normally does before that infamous climb. He made it to the top, but then died fr...

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“My Name Is Elias” by Barbara Eustace

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #32

I wake from dreamless black into a semi-conscious haze. My body moves, pins and needles firing, forcing me to rise before I’m fully awake. I’ve fallen asleep in a chair, an old functional armchair with thin cushions. I’ve a feeling it’s not the first time I’ve done this.I force myself to rise, still wondering who I am. I push myself up with my hands, gnarled knuckles, prominent veins, blueish tips to the fingers. Some old sod then, I thought.I look round the strange yet familiar room, at the old furniture that in its...

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“To Be the Man I Once Was” by Miz Erie

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #32

The years haven’t been gentle. Benjamin’s legs don’t move as quickly as they once did, and his gait falters more often than he cares to admit. He pauses just before the glass front of Déjà Brew to straighten his cinnamon cardigan and comb his fingers through—“Damn it!” Benjamin grimaces at the smart of his old shoulder injury from when—he can’t drown in the helplessness and dejection that paralyzed him for months after the collision again. At least, not right now. His shaggy, white hair will just have to remain wind-tousled.As usual, Ryan is...

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This week's prompts

Write about someone who works an average job — but incorporate elements of magic into it.

Fantasy – 76 stories

Write about a person who meets with the ghost of an old friend for tea every so often.

Fantasy – 111 stories

Write about two people in a relationship. One of them has special powers, the other does not.

Fantasy – 77 stories

Write a story that includes characters who are aware they are a work of fiction.

Fantasy – 74 stories

Write a story about someone who can pause time or re-live old memories at will.

High School – 65 stories

Stories

“The Tragedy of the Trainee” by Thiago Loriggio

🏆 Winner of Contest #32

“Next, please.” Paul pressed his eyes, tired, and took another aspirin. Easy job my ass, he thought, as the next interviewee entered his minuscule room. At least he had a room where he could rest in the few seconds it took for another person to come in; few trainees had that luxury. Few trainees, though, had a job as unfruitful as his. The door was opened and Paul raised his eyes, seeing an old man walking in with a stick. The man sat in the plastic chair in front of Paul and smiled. If the elder wasn’t the hundredth person Paul interv...

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“Another Cliché Murder Mystery” by Anoushka Jain

Submitted to Contest #32

'Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I have gathered you all here today to inform you..........I have been murdered.' She dragged out the last words, enunciating each word, drumming her long nails on the oak table. Several of the deceased's 'feint - hearted' neighbours passed out, landing with a soft thud on the carpeted hall. A tumult of gasps resonated around the room and Adelaide sank back into her leather chair, trying to hide her smirk, while the other 'townies' offered their condolences. She drew her hand to her face, to stifle the...

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“Falling in Love with a Haunted House” by Najwa Zandlo

Submitted to Contest #32

Not all hauntings happen in Victorian-style houses with stained-glass windows and wrap-around porches. They aren’t limited to old, porcelain dolls, or leather-bound books with ancient languages scribbled inside. People can be haunted, too - hearts can have poltergeists. I’m not talking about the kind of haunting that can be cleansed by a priest with holy water or burnt sticks of sage. The ghosts dwelling inside ordinary people don’t have names or unfinished business. They’re strangers, and they metastasize like cancer - deadly and rooted and...

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“Fairies, Witches, and Sorceresses, Oh My” by Lynn Penny

Submitted to Contest #32

“Where am I?!” Waking up in an unfamiliar place was never fun. Maxi was having the time of her life last night. Drinking free liquor and being surrounded by half-naked college students was something to be called exciting. This dark and dusty room was nothing close to the same. Maxi pulled herself up from the floor, stopping to lean on the wall after doing so. Stars spun around her head as she held both her head and stomach for dear life. Was she hit with a sledgehammer? For now, it wasn’t out of the question. The place was dead sil...

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“Ice Cream With Grandpa” by Stephanie Albright

Submitted to Contest #32

On September 24, 1981, I was home alone. The doorbell rang, my grandpa was standing there with a container of chocolate ice cream in his hand and a big ole' smile on his face. My dog was jumping up and down with excitement and inside so was I. I grabbed two bowls and the ice cream scoop, and we went out on the patio to eat our ice cream. When our ice cream had all been eaten, he pulled our well-worn set of dominoes from his right jacket pocket and his pipe from the left. We played dominoes for hours, talking and laughing. “What a...

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“Maledictions and Muffins” by Joshua G. J. Insole

Submitted to Contest #32

The witch waved her wand in the direction of her victim, whispering the ancient incantations under her breath. The words snaked out from between her lips, like a worm out of an apple. Her opponent began to expand — growing, widening, fattening. Mavis knew that it wouldn’t be long until the object of her spellcasting finally bid adieu to this mortal world and exploded, insides splattering in every direction.But Mavis wasn’t going to let them give up that easily, oh no. She had much more in store for the half a dozen target...

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“Dear Diary” by Kaye Boone

Submitted to Contest #32

Dear Diary, Sept. 16, 2019I feel absolutely dreadful this morning. The hangover, I can handle. It is the arguing that I can’t get over. I’m not even sure that what happened constitutes as an argument....

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“Unknown creatures” by Yoomi Ari

Submitted to Contest #32

Her thoughts are a strange ocean. One filled with transparency to those whe invade them. She just wanders through life with every friend by her side but some use her to their advantage. They would get jealous of her and maybe say a few bad words about her. A few in her books double, then triple, then quadruple and then fill up her strange ocean with strange fishes. Unknown creatures.She cowers from the blank canvas opposite her and in view. Inches away from the door, he stands penny picking every detail about her. The sunlight glows over fac...

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“Spirits Don't Catch Colds” by Laurentz Baker

Submitted to Contest #32

I figured with all this grand universe to explore you likely wouldn’t be back for a while. What gives?“Wow...It’s been damn near a month⎯and the green tea with lemon and honey will help with this cold.”“You don’t look sick to me.”“I may not look it but I can’t stop sneezing and my eyes keep watering.”“I can’t believe I’m falling for this...spirits don’t catch colds?”“How do you know? You’re not a ghost. And I’m sneezing all over the place. And in threes every so often.”“Threes?”“Yeah, one right after another. Then the goosebumps come and I b...

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“Lost in a Moment” by Kennedy Smith

Submitted to Contest #32

“Daddy,” Adaline’s voice came from upstairs, making Miles smile at the sound. “Daddy, I need help with my shoes.” “I’m coming princess,” Miles called up to her rising from sitting on the couch. “Miles,” Kassie's voice came from the kitchen making his head turn as he walked to the bottom of the stairs. “Closed toe shoes today. We’re going hiking with Andrew after lunch.” “Yes Ma’am,” Miles jokingly bowed to her a smile lighting his face as he raced up the stairs. Opening the bedroom door he found Adaline sprawled out on the floor....

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“The dead have no smell” by Deepa Ravi

Submitted to Contest #32

“Sometimes I feel like you are the only friend I have.” She told me, looking me straight in the eye. “When I talk to others, I feel like they are judging me. I can smell their feelings for me.” She whisperedI sat up, suddenly interested. That was a new one. She had never told me about this smell thing. “What do you mean ‘smell their feelings’.” I asked encouragingly“I was speaking to Judy today and I could smell her dislike for me. It reeked of sour yogurt.” She said nodding her head and squishing up her nose as she recalled the smell. “What...

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“The Epilogue” by Keri Dyck

Submitted to Contest #32

“It worked.”Rita panted, lying flat on her back. The smells coming through her nose were unfamiliar… and yet she knew exactly what they were.“It worked.”She opened her eyes. The sky above was a placid blue. There were a few clouds, but they looked too far away to do any good. She looked around. Brown stone walls hemmed her in on three sides. The fourth side opened up into a street. She got up. Her muscles were stiff, but she shook them out and continued.The street was empty. There were a few food carts, picked clean by the birds and wild dog...

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“In The Cherrywood Forest” by Devestation M

Submitted to Contest #32

James worked as an accountant for a large business in New York City, you may be thinking how busy he must be everyday since he works for a large business and in NYC! Well it was actually quite the opposite for since Mr. James Steele (as he was formally known at his work) worked in such a large business there was already five accountants and about a thousand other people doing his job, in fact, he felt rather unimportant sitting from seven A.M until six P.M for five days a week, four weeks a month, twelve months a year in his diminutive yet p...

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“The Real Superhero” by Lilly Blossom

Submitted to Contest #32

I told Bryan that I was a Seer, living in a world filled with half-humans and half-supers. That was the world we lived in. Perhaps we always had, and until a few years ago, it became common and acceptable to allow us “Supers” to peacefully exist within our society, without fear of segregation. But the biases and judgments were still there, despite the High Court’s rulings. New York wasn’t as bad though, compared to smaller towns. I was thankful to be born and raised here with my “special abilities,” since so many others around the worl...

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“Tales from Yújìn” by Bree Kokiri

Submitted to Contest #32

“The wicker basket, with the red stain, please.” Luò Wei handed the stall keeper ¥34, and dropped what he was carrying into its new home. “Xiè xie!” The young man nodded. “You’re very welcome.” Luò Wei replied, smiling. He was ashamed to think it had been a few years since he’d last visited his home village of Yújìn. It was a historic and quaint town, where everyone knew everyone. The cobble streets were decorated beautifully for the festival. Despite being on an island, the agriculture was booming, and the vendors in town had everything you...

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$50

Prize money

403

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 13, 2020 EST

Won by Thiago Loriggio 🏆

Title: The Tragedy of the Trainee

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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